On Saturday 9 November the Nazarene Church in Rotterdam came alive with the second edition of "Holy Chaos," a celebration of unity in diversity that brought together Portuguese, Bulgarian, and Arabic-speaking congregations from across the Netherlands.

From the moment guests arrived, the warmth of the Bulgarian congregation set the tone with coffee, tea, and homemade treats, creating a sense of family.

As the church hall filled with attendees from various cultural and linguistic backgrounds, the atmosphere grew lively with anticipation. The worship band, composed of musicians from Nazarene churches in Rotterdam, struck their first chords, and voices rose together in six different languages. 

"I've never seen anything like it," Miriam from Slovakia later reflected. "People singing in languages they didn't even understand, connecting through their differences—it was beautiful. God's love brought us all together in that moment."

Throughout the evening, stories of faith and resilience took center stage. A young Bulgarian man shared how God had radically transformed his life. A girl in traditional Bulgarian attire recited Psalm 117 in both Bulgarian and Dutch, her voice weaving the two languages together. 

Meanwhile, a young woman from the Emmaus congregation spoke candidly about her faith journey, and a member of the Utrecht congregation reflected on the challenges and growth they experienced while transitioning from life in a Syrian asylum seekers' center.

Annemarie Snijders led a workshop on navigating cultural complexity, offering practical insights into understanding and celebrating differences. Then came a deeply moving moment: participants prayed the Lord's Prayer, each in their native language. 

"It felt like a glimpse of heaven," said Carlin, one of the international students attending the event. "People from different cultures, united in Christ, praising God together—it's how I imagine eternity."

The evening concluded with Hadassa Stehouwer and José Gonçalves leading the Holy Communion, a sacred reminder of the unity found in Christ. Afterward, the Emmaus congregation served a delicious meal that drew everyone closer. 

"The food was amazing," Juliana from Germany/Ecuador shared. "But more than that, it was wonderful to experience everyone's kindness. I felt like I saw how Dutch churches come together."

--Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific